DSK Legal advised lead investor Omnivore Agritech & Climate Sustainability Fund 3 on its investment in Distinct Origins Private Limited, operating under the brand name Manam Chocolate. The transaction marks a significant milestone for one of India’s most closely watched craft chocolate companies, and adds another agri-food mandate to DSK Legal’s growing venture capital practice. For the latest deal activity across India’s top law firms, see the Deal Meter.
Introduction
Distinct Origins Private Limited, doing business as Manam Chocolate, raised investment from a fundraise led by Omnivore Agritech & Climate Sustainability Fund 3, with participation from the Tur mor consortium. DSK Legal assisted in conducting due diligence on the company; drafting of Share Subscription Agreements and Shareholders’ Agreement; drafting of all documents for completion of conditions precedent and closing; and assistance in secretarial services required for the transaction.
Founded in 2021 by Chaitanya Muppala, the Hyderabad-based craft chocolate company has built a network of over 250 farmers, managing more than 3,000 acres of cacao farms. Manam Chocolate manages its operations across the chocolate value chain, covering cacao farming, fermentation, chocolate production, and confectionery development; through its parent company, Distinct Origins Pvt Ltd, it works with more than 250 member farmers cultivating over 3,000 acres of cacao farms in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district.
Deal Value
Manam Chocolate raised USD 9 million in a Series A funding round led by Omnivore, with participation from the Turner Morrison consortium. The fresh capital will be deployed to expand the company’s retail footprint, with an immediate focus on launching new experiential store formats across the Delhi–NCR region over the next 12 months. The newly raised capital will be deployed toward expanding Manam Chocolate’s retail presence from its current footprint to 18 stores over the next two years.
Legal Teams Involved
Advising Omnivore Agritech & Climate Sustainability Fund 3 — DSK Legal
The transaction team consisted of the following members, led by the relationship and lead engagement partner:
- Sameena Chatrapathy — Partner (Relationship and Lead Engagement Partner)
- Alpna Arya — Principal Associate
- Vignesh Adithyan — Senior Associate
- Malini Satheese — Senior Associate
- Tejaswini Sundar — Associate
No legal advisers to the company, Distinct Origins Private Limited, or to the Tur mor consortium were disclosed. Further details were not disclosed.
Significance and Impact
India’s premium chocolate market is estimated at USD 1.64 billion as of 2025 and is projected to grow at an annual rate of over six per cent through 2030, according to industry estimates. Against this backdrop, the Omnivore-led Series A underscores the growing appetite among institutional venture capital funds for origin-led consumer brands anchored to traceable, farmer-partnered supply chains.
Reihem Roy, Partner at Omnivore, noted that premium consumer brands like Manam Chocolate, anchored with a strong farmer-partnered supply chain, demonstrate how origin-led value addition can improve livelihoods at the farm level while reducing commodity-price volatility. Omnivore Agritech & Climate Sustainability Fund 3 is mandated to invest in Agri and FoodTech companies in India, including companies with operations in India and Southeast Asia, with a focus on areas such as Farmer Platforms, Precision Agriculture, and Farm to Consumer brands.
From a legal market perspective, the mandate is notable for DSK Legal‘s team led by Sameena Chatrapathy. Reihem Roy, Partner of Omnivore, commented on DSK Legal’s role, noting that he had worked with Sameena Chatrapathy for more than a decade across several deals. The instruction covered the full transaction lifecycle — from investor-side due diligence through to secretarial completion — reflecting the breadth of services that venture capital mandates now demand from full-service Indian law firms.
Founded in 2021 by Chaitanya Muppala, Manam Chocolate is a bean-to-bar chocolate company that manufactures craft chocolate using Indian cacao; apart from producing retail chocolates, the company exports fine-flavour cocoa beans and manufactures chocolates for the HoReCa sector.
Manam Chocolate, a craft chocolate brand owned by Distinct Origins Pvt Ltd, has raised USD 9 million in a Series A funding round led by Omnivore, with participation from the Turner Morrison consortium. DSK Legal, led by Sameena Chatrapathy (Partner), acted as legal counsel to the lead investor across all aspects of the transaction. The deal reflects continued institutional confidence in India’s premium food and agritech sectors and signals the maturation of origin-led consumer brands as a credible venture capital asset class.
External References: Bar & Bench — DSK Legal advises Omnivore on investment in Manam Chocolate | Business Standard — Craft chocolate startup Manam raises $9 mn | Outlook Business — Manam Chocolate Raises $9 Million | Legal Era Online — DSK Legal Advised Omnivore on Manam Chocolates
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is based on the details provided and publicly available sources.
